With immense sadness we had to say goodbye to our loveable French friend, Bramley, on Saturday morning 8th February 2020. Old age eventually overtook the ‘indestructible’ Mr B who was a fighter all the way to the end. We adopted him from the SPA in Figeac in 2010, having been ‘resident’ there for nearly 4 years. He had been found by the roadside with one of his hind legs and both front legs broken (perhaps from a ... [ More ]
la Métairie des Songes
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
Every guest that comes to la Métairie des Songes for more than just an overnight stay, simply MUST visit Saint-Cirq-Lapopie ! Voted one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages in 2012 (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France), it astounds by its grandeur, charms by its rurality and seduces by its views over the Lot river. With a gentle amble up the winding paths, passing restaurants, bars and numerous little shops within the ... [ More ]
A stroll through our Woods
When we first viewed ‘la Métairie des Songes’ (although un-named at that time), we had simply viewed the grounds from the house. It was not until the second viewing that we took the opportunity to stroll around the woodlands that surrounded the land. It was enchantment at first site, like a hidden and even more precious gift awaiting discovery. Eventually after 12 years of living here, we have managed to create a ... [ More ]
Les Jardins d’eau
Within just 20 minutes drive from us you will arrive at the fabulous ‘Jardins d’Eau’, located between Gourdon and Sarlat on the D704. From our first visit many years ago when the project was in its early stages, we have seen these gardens grow into a beautiful array of vast flowering lily-covered ponds that greet you from the entrance with ornamental fish who swim in special 'open-view’ tanks. You then walk across a ... [ More ]
The Bales are cut for the Summer !
Following a Winter with unprecedented rainfall that continued well into May (although very patchy), the resulting growth from the valley seemed like a jungle. When an occasional shower would flatten everything then a stiff breeze would bring all back to attention again. The obvious advantage of possessing such a natural hillside meadow is that it becomes replete with Orchids and an armada of Butterflies in the early ... [ More ]
An ocean of Orchids in the valley
As soon as the weather breaks free from its Winter shell into the azur blue of Springtime, flowers both from the blossom of the fruit trees in the garden and those that carpet the fields, fill our view every day. The proportion of countryside in comparison to urban areas within the Lot region is so high, that due to the incredible clarity of the air quality, the surrounding woodlands (and especially our valley) are ... [ More ]
